Are Natural Burials an Option in Minnesota?

Natural burials are an option in Minnesota. The state has several natural and hybrid burial grounds, and Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial is certified by the Green Burial Council to provide this service. Although there was a two-year moratorium issued in 2023 on creating new green cemeteries for further study, natural burials can still be performed. The moratorium results are expected in 2025, when it is set to expire.

What is Flameless Cremation?

Flameless cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation, is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame cremation. This process uses a combination of water flow, temperature, and alkalinity to accelerate natural tissue disintegration, resulting in cremated remains that can be buried, kept in an urn, placed at a conservation tree, or scattered.

How Does Flameless Cremation Work?

In flameless cremation, the body is placed in a pressure vessel and submerged in a solution of 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide and/or sodium hydroxide. The vessel is heated to 200-300 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than the temperatures used in traditional flame cremations.

Is Flameless Cremation Environmentally Friendly?

Flameless cremation is significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional methods. It uses lower temperatures, does not burn propane or natural gas, and reduces carbon emissions.

Is Flameless Cremation Safe and Legal?

Flameless cremation is both safe and legal. It ensures environmentally responsible handling of remains, allows for the extraction and recycling of medical implants, and has been legal in Minnesota since its endorsement by the Mayo Clinic for its ecological benefits and efficient handling of medical implants.

How Much Does Flameless Cremation Cost?

The cost of flameless cremation varies by location and funeral home but is generally comparable to or slightly higher than traditional cremation. The specialized equipment and reduced environmental impact often justify the cost for many families.

What is a Natural Burial?

A natural burial is an eco-friendly funeral practice that allows the body to return to the earth in an environmentally conscious manner. It minimizes the use of chemicals, like embalming fluids, and avoids materials like concrete used in traditional burial vaults. By forgoing these practices, natural burial conserves resources, prevents pollution, and reduces carbon footprint.

What is a Natural Burial Option?

Natural burial options include choices for an eco-friendly burial, such as using natural burial caskets, selecting a green burial site, or integrating cremated remains into natural burial grounds.

What is a Natural Burial Cemetery?

A natural burial cemetery, like Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, is specifically designed for natural burials. These cemeteries have minimal environmental impact and often resemble natural landscapes rather than traditional cemeteries.

How Many Burials Do Not Involve Embalming?

This leaves 885,320 burials with possible embalming. According to former Green Burial Council President, Ed Bixby it’s estimated that 8% of people choose green burials. (3) Whether that includes those people buried without embalming in the Jewish and Muslim traditions, he did not specify, but if we’re generous and say it is 8% of people already choosing burial and are in addition to Jewish and Muslim burials, that would subtract another 70,825 from annual embalmings. This would mean, in the United States there are an estimated 814,500 burials with embalming per year.

How Many Gallons Of Embalming Fluid Are Used Per Person?

Roughly three gallons are used. What percentage of that is formaldehyde depends on the practitioner and what someone considers “embalming fluid”. Rarely, practitioners will use undiluted embalming solution, but the vast majority use a diluted solution.

What Is Embalming Fluid Made Of?

There are generally 16oz of concentrated embalming solution diluted with 112 oz of water to create one gallon of usable embalming fluid. So, each gallon of commonly used embalming fluid is more than 87.5% water. Each manufacturer has a proprietary formula to their 16oz concentrated embalming solution, but according to manufacturer, Dodge’s Safety Data Sheet (10) for their commonly used Metasyn Normal concentrated embalming solution, 1.6-4 oz. (10-25%) is formaldehyde, a regulated carcinogen. Other regulated substances included are up to 0.8 oz each of methanol and propylene glycol, neither of which is a regulated carcinogen.

How Much Embalming Fluid Is Used Per Body?

There is a broad rule of thumb that one gallon of embalming fluid is used per 50 pounds of body weight. But the amount of embalming fluid used also depends on the size of the person. In practice, it generally works out to an average of about 3 gallons of embalming fluid per body, of which up to 12 oz is formaldehyde.

How Many Gallons Of Embalming Fluid Are Buried Each Year In The US?

Each year an estimated 2,443,500 gallons of embalming fluid are buried in the United States. This amount is reached from an estimated 814,500 burials with embalming per year, times three gallons per body. Of those 2,443,500 gallons of embalming fluid used, there are generally up to 4 oz of formaldehyde per gallon, which means roughly 97,740 gallons of formaldehyde are buried with embalmed bodies in the US each year.

Is Green Burial Legal in Minnesota?

Yes, green burial in Minnesota is legal. The state allows for natural burials, where the body is not embalmed and can be buried in a biodegradable coffin or shroud. Minnesota hosts several green cemeteries and allows hybrid cemeteries, which accommodate both traditional and green burials.

Is Green Burial Legal in Arizona?

Snow birds might like to know that Arizona also permits green burials. The state's regulations support eco-friendly burial practices, including the use of biodegradable materials and the option to forgo embalming. This makes Arizona an accommodating place for those wishing to opt for a green burial.

Is Green Burial Illegal in Minnesota Now?

Because of a green burial law that passed in Minnesota in 2022 some people think that green burial is illegal in MN, which is incorrect. As part of the Omnibus bill that passed in 2023 there was a small piece of legislation with a bigger impact, but it did not make green burial illegal in Minnesota. What it did do is create a moratorium on new green burial cemeteries through 2025 when the law is set to expire.

Why Did the Moratorium Happen?

A small group of citizens in Northern Minnesota were upset about a green burial cemetery being established in their community and their concerns turned into legislation requiring the state to fund and study the impact of all-natural burial. It also prohibited any new green cemeteries or conservation burial grounds until July 2025. Being that green burial was the form of disposition for every interred human in history until embalming became popularized during the Civil War, we’re confident that allowing a body to naturally return to the Earth will be found to be safe.

Can I Bury Someone In My Yard?

It depends on local ordinances and how much work you’re willing to do. In Minnesota, if you want to bury a human body on private land, that land has to be identified as cemetery property in perpetuity. This also means that cemetery land would need to a permitted land use in your city’s code and also that specific funding needs to be set aside to maintain that cemetery land in perpetuity.

What is Body Composting?

Body composting, or human composting, is a process that transforms human remains into highly regenerative soil, often used in tree planting, conservation projects, gardens, or woodlands. It's part of a broader movement towards green burial services, including natural burials and other ecological burial practices. Unlike traditional burials, body composting is an environmentally friendly method that avoids the use of embalming fluids, metal caskets, concrete burial vaults, and perpetual land use.

How Does Body Composting Work?

The human composting process, scientifically referred to as natural organic reduction (NOR), involves placing the human body in a vessel with organic materials like wood chips, straw, and alfalfa. Over a span of several weeks, natural microbial activity breaks down the tissue, transforming it into a cubic yard of nutrient dense compost. This method mirrors the natural aerobic (oxygen using) decomposition process but occurs in a controlled environment. Though each NOR provider has their own specific method, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University, has worked with NOR advocate Katrina Spade pioneering the development and refinement the human composting process. The body, along with the organic materials and air flow, undergoes a natural, heat-producing process that accelerates decomposition while eliminating pathogens and capturing the body’s carbon. The end product is a nutrient-rich soil that can support plant growth, allowing the deceased to be returned to the earth in a meaningful way.

Is Body Composting Legal?

The legality of body composting varies by location. In the United States, it was first legalized in Washington state, setting a precedent for other states to follow. Since then, other states have been considering or have passed legislation to allow this process as a part of green burials.

What are the Benefits of Body Composting?

Body composting offers several benefits over conventional burial and cremation methods: Environmental Impact: Traditional burials often involve embalming fluids, and the manufacturing and transportation of caskets and vaults which carry a carbon footprint. Cremation consumes fuel and releases greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, local body composting produces no direct carbon emissions, sequesters the carbon from the body in the soil keeping it from entering the atmosphere, and requires significantly fewer consumable resources. Conservation: The process transforms human remains into soil that can be used to nourish the earth. It's a way of giving back to the environment, contributing to the growth of plants and the conservation of natural spaces. Cost-Effective: The human composting cost can be lower than traditional burials or cremations. While prices vary, local NOR providers are often considered a more affordable green funeral option. Emotional and Spiritual Benefits: For many, the idea of being laid to rest in a natural and meaningful way is comforting, helping to create a positive outcome from the end of their life. The process of human composting aligns with the beliefs of those who seek the continuity of simply returning to the earth. Space Conservation: In areas where burial space is limited or land is scarce, body composting offers a space-efficient alternative whole-body burial. The composted remains can return to the earth without requiring that land be designated, in perpetuity, as cemetery land.

Why Support Body Composting?

Natural organic reduction not only aligns with the principles of environmental stewardship but also offers a deeply personal and meaningful option for being laid to rest. The transformation of human remains into soil is a profound process, symbolizing the cycle of life in a tangible way. As we continue to seek sustainable and meaningful ways to say goodbye to our loved ones, body composting stands out as a beacon of hope, offering a choice that is both respectful to the departed and kind to the planet.

How Does Water Cremation Work?

In water cremation, the body is placed in a vessel filled with a water and alkali solution. The liquid in the vessel is then heated, but at a drastically lower heat than used in flame cremation. The combination of the heat, fluid movement, water, and alkali breaks down the soft tissue, leaving behind the bone material and a sterile liquid.

What is Water Cremation and How Does It Differ from Flame Cremation?

Water cremation reduces a body using water and alkali, whereas flame cremation uses combustible fossil fuels. Flame cremation involves reducing the body at very high temperatures, and water cremation uses roughly five times less heat, but both result in processed bone material or “ashes,” being returned to the family in an urn or receptacle.

Is Water Cremation More Environmentally Friendly than Flame Cremation?

Water cremation is generally considered more environmentally friendly than traditional flame cremation. It uses electricity to heat the solution and doesn’t directly emit fossil fuel exhaust into the atmosphere. Aquamation also captures the carbon from the body in the solution producing a sterile liquid that can safely be returned to the wastewater system.

Is Water Cremation More Expensive than Flame Cremation?

The cost of water cremation can vary depending on location and provider. In some cases, often it is more costly than traditional flame cremation due to the specialized equipment required and the longer processing time. However, at Interra Green Burial we want to encourage families to use this ecological cremation option, so an aquamation without services is less than Mueller Memorial’s flame cremation.

Natural Organic Reduction Legal in Minnesota Today

Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial • July 1, 2025

Could I get my body composted in Minnesota today? Yes and no...

Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), also known as body composting, human composting, or terramation, is now legally available for Minnesota families—though some steps remain before services can be provided here.

Today, NOR has been fully legalized in Minnesota. We'll explore how natural organic reduction in Minnesota went from hopeful possibility to full legal recognition, thanks to passionate advocacy and partnerships, including the role of Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial.

📍 What Is Natural Organic Reduction?

Natural organic reduction is a compelling, eco‑friendly funeral option that harnesses natural decomposition to transform a human body into soil. Typically, a body is placed in a vessel with wood chips, alfalfa, and straw.

Over about 30–50 days, microbes break all tissues down into roughly one cubic yard of nutrient dense soil—ideal for tree planting or land restoration. This process offers the composting burial Minnesota residents are increasingly seeking as sustainable alternatives to typical cremation or traditional burial.

🏛️ The Legislative Journey in Minnesota

1. Bills Introduced in 2023–24

Through the efforts of a genuinely grassroots group of people, who would later come to be known as NORMinnesota, in January 2023 a legislative push began. House Bill HF2669 and Senate Bill SF3134 were introduced to authorize "natural organic reduction." Sponsors included Rep. John Huot and Sen. John Marty. The legislation was spearheaded by Carolyn Laine, former Minnesota House Representative and Senator, who is a passionate advocate for empowering Minnesotans with end-of-life options.

2. Advocacy & Expert Testimony

Equipped with science, safety data, and heartfelt stories, a panel including former MN Rep. and Senator Carolyn Laine; licensed funeral director and University of Minnesota educator Janet McGee; Entrepreneurship and Innovation program manager and LiveOn founder, Erik Halaas; and Interra’s own Vice President and Communications Director, Taelor Johnson, testified before Minnesota House and Senate committees.

Taelor shared the remarkable story of Steve Wheeler, a kind and brilliant social studies teacher from Lake Elmo who was diagnosed with terminal cancer but was unhappy with the burial and cremation pre-planning options avaiable to him. Steve had heard a panel of speakers on the radio discussing NOR and he thought that was the disposition method for him! But he quickly realized it wasn't legal in Minnesota. So Steve went searching for a green burial as an alternative, and in March of 2023, found Interra.

Coincidentally, three days before Steve reached out to Interra to make a plan, Taelor had been at a body composting conference in Denver, and created a partnership with Return Home from Washington state to make terramation available at home in Minnesota. (It was truly a cross-country endeavor.) When Steve called three days after the conference and told Interra funeral director, Mandy Stafford, that what he really wanted was to be composted, Mandy said, "We can do that."

So Steve became the first person to pre‑arrange terramation in Minnesota with Interra—even though the law didn’t yet allow composting locally. Then a year later, in March 2024, and through heartfelt testimony of Steve’s story, Taelor helped lawmakers see the real-world need: green burial alternatives Minnesota can embrace.

3. Final Approval in Spring 2024

After committee negotiations—and collaboration with the Minnesota Funeral Directors' Association to fine-tune language, licensing, facility safety, and compost quality standards—the bills were folded into Minnesota’s 1,430‑page omnibus tax bill. On May 19, 2024, the legislature passed it, and on May 24, 2024, Governor Tim Walz signed it into law.

4. Effective July 1, 2025

Although the law was passed in May 2024, it includes an implementation timeline: natural organic reduction becomes legal in practice starting July 1, 2025. However, the Minnesota Department of Health is still actively working on rulemaking that will need to be finalized before a provider can build and operate a licensed facility here in Minnesota. Taelor is part of the group of stakeholders collaborating with the MDH to make the rules fair, functional, enforceable, and most of all, focused on safety.

⚠️ What Comes Next: Minnesota Department of Health Rulemaking

So, even though NOR is legal, licensed facilities can’t operate yet. The Minnesota Department of Health is currently finalizing rulemaking—setting standards for:

Facility design and zoning
Vessel specifications for composting human remains
Worker safety and sterilization protocols
Identification, tracking, and recordkeeping procedures

This regulation phase is crucial. For now, no in‑state provider or facility can be licensed. But once these rules are finalized, Minnesota will see its first licensed NOR providers.

🌱 Honoring Steve Wheeler: A Trailblazer for Terramation in Minnesota

Steve Wheeler’s courage continues to inspire. He pre‑arranged his NOR in March 2023, then sadly passed away in September of that same year. With Interra’s coordination, his body was sent to Washington for composting at Return Home—fulfilling his final wish. Taelor and Mandy from Interra traveled to Seattle to be at this pioneer's laying-in ceremony.

His willingness to try something tested but new and to allow Interra to interview him and share his recorded story, played a significant role in the Minnesota NOR journey, reminding legislators that this is not abstract policy—terramation can be deeply personal and transformational.

🌿 Interra’s Continuing Role: Terramation Services Today

Until Minnesota facilities are up and running, Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial remains committed to serving families here. Through its enduring partnership with Return Home in Washington, Interra offers full transportation and coordination so any Minnesotan can still access body composting.

Interra has arranged more terramations than any other local Minnesota provider
Families still have real options: If someone needs body composting in Minnesota today, we have the experience and relationships to make that happen.

Once rules for NOR are set, Interra will seamlessly transition to championing nearby licensed, trusted NOR funeral providers in Minnesota.

✔️ Why This Matters for You

Eco‑conscious funeral Minnesota: Ensure your death care choices reflect your environmental values.
Peace of mind: Know that your end-of-life choices will reflect what is significant to you.
Immediate support: You don’t have to wait—Interra can facilitate composting today through trusted partners.
Memorial legacy: Choose a disposition option that gives back to the earth and community.

🧭 FAQ: Your NOR Questions Answered

Q: Is human composting legal in Minnesota right now?
A: Yes, but… The law was signed on May 24, 2024, and takes effect July 1, 2025, legally allowing NOR in Minnesota, but licensing rules are not yet finished. However Interra Green Burial can provide NOR today with our out of state partner, Return Home.

Q: Why the delay until July 1, 2025?
A: Minnesota law built in a timeline to give the Department of Health time to establish rules and licensing systems. Sometimes that rule making takes longer to get right than expected.

Q: Can I arrange NOR in Minnesota today?
A: Absolutely—through Interra’s partnership with Return Home in Washington State. Interra arranges everything from transport to composting and return of the soil.

Q: What will in‑state facilities look like?
A: Future NOR facilities in Minnesota will be licensed by MDH and meet strict standards: vessels in climate-controlled rooms, mechanical processing of soil, identification processes, odor control, and safety training.

🌳 Final Thoughts: A New Chapter in Funeral Care

Minnesota’s acceptance of natural organic reduction marks a profound shift in recognizing eco‑friendly funeral Minnesota options. From Steve Wheeler’s visionary choice to Taelor Johnson’s powerful testimony, and from legislative adoption to on-the-ground peace of mind via Interra, this path has been paved by compassion, clarity, and community care.

Today, July 1, 2025, Minnesota will officially join the ranks of states offering licensed NOR services. Until we have a provider at home, Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial stands as a bridge—providing expert, dignified natural disposition through trusted partners, and preparing for in‑state services on the horizon.